Carpools aren’t just for kids anymore–more and more, adult students and professionals are organizing carpools to share resources, save money on gas and parking, and reduce the environmental burden of multiple-car journeys. With more and more drivers on the roads and congestion at an all-time high, the daily commute can be extremely stressful, particularly at peak times, and carpooling can be a great way to alleviate this stress.
In order to get the most benefit from a carpool, careful organization is critical. There are a number of different areas that will contribute to the success or failure of your carpool, so take time to plan carefully. Follow these tips from our team at DCH Toyota of Oxnard to create the best carpool possible.
1. You should set out to define the target group of people that you wish to include in your carpool. It may be based around your workplace, your child’s school, or simply based on a particular route that many drivers use. How you set about attracting people to your carpool will depend entirely on these considerations. In the workplace or for your child’s school, you will have a fixed location in which you can advertise and manage membership. In other cases, you may need to manage the pool online and via email. Online tools exist that can help you find and make contact with interested drivers.
2. Establish criteria for the membership of your carpool. It is important that all members are treated equally within the scheme and that, conversely, everyone contributes to the same extent. You will need to set ground rules around the expected frequency with which people will drive, for example, and whether you will accept non-drivers into the group. You must define any financial commitments that members must make. Non-drivers, for example, may need to contribute towards gas costs. There may be a need for different insurances. You may even wish to ask members to contribute towards coffees and treats en route. There will also need to be penalties for non-attendance or failing to meet commitments.
3. Construct a plan around the initial membership. Clearly identify the days and times members are available and then establish a schedule for driving and non-driving. You may wish to make this more or less flexible according to the needs of your members. Always include a contingency plan, so that there is cover in the event of sickness or holidays. Ensure that a schedule of maintenance is included for all the cars in the pool, such that vehicles are regularly maintained and can support the group commitments. You may be able to secure a discount with your local dealerships if you can guarantee business from a number of different vehicles. Make sure your plan is shared with everyone in the group and can be easily accessed at all times.
4. Agree on carpooling etiquette. If you have a mixture of smokers and non-smokers, then you need to establish ground rules that meet everybody’s needs. You will also want to consider things like eating and drinking in the car. Who is responsible for collecting and disposing of litter? Music tastes vary wildly, so you need to establish some form of etiquette that caters to everybody, perhaps agreeing to listen to a commercial radio station instead. It may be a good idea to designate a carpool manager to whom suggestions and comments can be raised.
5. Make sure that there is a mechanism for reviewing and changing the plan. This might include short-term needs such as disruption to a route through road works. Other longer-term changes will include somebody leaving the group, or changing their patterns of movement. You may also want to consider how you track the benefits of your carpool, through mileage and gas saved. This can be a great way to encourage people to join or to maintain their commitment.
Driving is stressful and expensive, and pooling resources can be of enormous benefit. Use these tips to organize a carpool and help reduce the costs and the impact on the environment of your daily commute.
